Special Training In Dragon Qi Throwing Art

The Taoist practitioners watching began to think Kanru might be dead when they saw him remain motionless for a while. That was only natural, since he had taken a direct hit from Dragon Wing, a secret technique powerful enough to finish off yōma. However, Kanru was alive.

He had broken bones in several places, but Kanru was not dead. For some reason, the power of Dragon Wing seemed to have dropped. I could only think of one reason. It was probably because the weapon used was a practice sword. Wood did not conduct qi as well as the human body, so the power of Dragon Wing had weakened.

“Senior Brother Daaren is strong.”

Seiran said it as if muttering.

“There’s a rumor that Senior Brother Yulong is targeting you, Senior Brother Kou.”

Haoxuen said with a worried face.

“I know. As long as I’m not caught off guard, I think I can handle Yulong. The problem is Senior Brother Daaren.”

“With that level of ability, yes. What will you do if he challenges you?”

“I won’t accept a match until I have a plan for winning. If I were to accept, it would be if Daaren promised to use a broadsword.”

Daaren probably would not accept that kind of match. While I was thinking that, Yulong found me and approached.

“Kou, aren’t you going to fight Senior Brother Daaren too?”

“I have no reason to fight him. I have barely even spoken to Senior Brother Daaren.”

“Hmph, are you scared?”

I observed Yulong. He seemed excited because Daaren had beaten Kanru.

There was no way I would say I would fight Daaren because of such cheap provocation.

“If you’re going that far, then I’ll fight you.”

When I glared at Yulong, his expression changed.

“You’re going to fight me? Have you forgotten that I’ve started learning Dragon Qi Sword Art?”

“Let’s settle this with my Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique against your Dragon Qi Sword Art.”

Daaren cut in there.

“Wait. Fight me, not Yulong.”

Thinking this had become troublesome, I turned my eyes toward Daaren.

“Why should I fight you, Senior Brother Daaren?”

Daaren wrinkled his brow.

“You’re noisy, going on and on. If you’re a man, you want to fight strong opponents, don’t you?”

“I don’t particularly think so. Do you think that way, Senior Brother?”

“Of course.”

I found a certain person among the gathered spectators and grinned.

“Elder Shanshi, Senior Brother Daaren says he wants to fight a strong opponent. Could you please be Senior Brother’s opponent?”

“Is that so?”

I pushed Daaren onto Elder Shanshi, who had been listening among the spectators. Then Daaren’s face stiffened.

“No, I was only joking, so please excuse me.”

When Daaren left, laughter rose from among the gathered spectators. This was bad. I had made Daaren truly angry.

When I told him to fight Elder Shanshi, I thought he would say, “I’ll fight him,” but he was more of a coward than I expected. Once Daaren was gone, Yulong had also disappeared before I knew it. The spectators also dispersed, leaving only Seiran and Haoxuen.

“Senior Brother Kou, this is bad.”

Seiran said.

“I know. Daaren said, ‘If you’re a man, you want to fight strong opponents,’ but when the opponent is Elder Shanshi, he runs away?”

“Do you think Senior Brother Daaren will try something?”

“I don’t know, but I may need to think of countermeasures.”

Thinking that I needed some countermeasure, I headed to the demon realm for the first time in a while. In the shallow parts of the demon realm, I gathered black mushrooms and medicinal herbs with red flowers. Besides those, I also searched for and obtained ingredients for Nourishing Life Pills and Healing Pills.

After returning to Gyorei Cave, I intended to make several immortal medicines with the medicinal herbs I had obtained and carry them around as a precaution. Then I devoted all my effort to practicing Dragon Qi Throwing Art.

My training in Dragon Qi Throwing Art had entered the stage of practicing throwing while moving violently. The weapon I chose for Dragon Qi Throwing Art was a type called spike throwing knives.

I practiced quickly taking out and throwing spike throwing knives while fighting with the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique, and also practiced throwing while using the Demonic Horn Warhammer Art.

With the Lightning Thorn Hammer, which I swung with one hand, I just had to throw with my free hand, but the Serpent-Goat Broadsword was something handled with both hands, so I struggled. I would hold the broadsword I had been controlling with both hands in one hand for just an instant, take out a spike throwing knife, and throw it. I repeated that kind of practice like an idiot.

The most difficult part was changing the Floating Yang Qi circulating inside my body into dragon qi only when I threw. Changing it in an instant was truly difficult. At night, I did nothing but continue practicing changing Floating Yang Qi into dragon qi.

While I was continuing those days, I ran out of Qi Prosperity Pills, so I headed to the demon realm to hunt Twin-Spear Deer. From around the time I entered the demon realm, I noticed that I was being followed.

“It’s probably Yulong or Daaren. What should I do?”

After thinking it over, I changed my route toward a direction I usually did not go. Once I arrived at my target location, I searched for Red-Eyed Bears that wandered around this area.

Several demon-realm bees had made nests here, and there were a few Red-Eyed Bears aiming for their honey. After finding one Red-Eyed Bear, I lured my pursuers there.

When I climbed a tree and waited, I saw Yulong and Daaren appear.

“Strange. That guy’s traces disappeared.”

Daaren said.

“What does that mean?”

“He may have noticed the tail.”

“Tch, what a troublesome bastard.”

“There seems to be a yōma ahead. Shall we turn back?”

“I don’t want to go back empty-handed. Let’s hunt that yōma and then return.”

The two of them advanced toward the Red-Eyed Bear.